Establishment of three phase solar plan was the main topic of discussion at the Renewable Energy India 2011 Expo (REIE), held on August 10 to 12. The project aims to install 1-2 GW by 2013, 4-10 GW from 2013-2017, and 20 GW by 2022.

In June 2011, 200 MW of grid connected photovoltaic (PV) and 500 MW of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants had been billed for development under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (NSM), whereas 300 MW of PV expected to be allocated soon.

The NSM has collected $335 million to spend on solar development in the coming 2 years. With improved funding, policy support and state schemes, the solar market of India is expected to grow.

The transmission infrastructure has been the main agenda for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. International financing and technology transfer are being considered as the major factors in solar power growth in the second phase (especially for off-grid installations).

As per Andrea Manzini of CPL Energy, “There is a lot of potential in solar. We are looking at solar and other renewable energy to find out the best way to invest in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. We might [invest] 50/50 in solar and another renewable using a joint venture”.